Brooks McKowen

[BCPanther]

or bcrawf...

[Panther_Fan]

Amen!!

Tcondon, Your "theory" on why Brooks has so many assists might have been true a year or two ago but so far this year the UNI Panthers have not really run "ALOT" of set plays. Only about 1/3 of the "set plays" offense is in and a number of the "new" guys are still struggling with understanding those so they really haven't been able to use alot of those set plays. I think the reason Brooks has alot of assists is 2 fold: he IS penetrating more and dishing off to the open man if the shot isn't there and also the transistion game has been there and he has done a great job of finding the open man for quick buckets.
Also, I will never understand the UNI fan who doesn't appreciate what Brooks brings to the floor every night and instead wants to get on his butt about how he is or is not playing. One poster said he has to bring his game everyday if UNI is going to win, well, you can say that about Stout and Coleman too! If you are on the team you better bring your game each and every game so to call Brooks out on this is absurd. Also, all UNI basketball has done since Brooks was the point guard is WIN! He is a winner everybody and that hasn't changed over the years! That is the one constant Brooks brings everyday, HE is a winner! I will take 10 Brooks McKowens on my team before I take one Curtis Stinson etc. because he is a team player and knows how to win. He will take a big charge when you need it, he will tie up the other teams big man and get a big jump ball call when you need it and he will seem to come up with that steal just when you need it! Does he turn it over once in while, yes, but keep in mind he is handling the ball more than any other player on the floor as the point guard and turnovers usually go along with that. If a big man has the ball in his hands for a total of 2-3 minutes in the game and has 1 or 2 turnovers and your PG has it in his hands for 10-12 minutes and turns it over 2-3 times who is more efficient with the ball? Too many fans just look at the NUMBER of turnovers and are not taking into consideration how much time the ball is in the persons possession and when teams are pressing the chance for turnovers increases.
In closing, Brooks McKowen IS the 2006-07 UNI Panther starting point guard and anyone who claims to be a UNI fan should be on the McKowen bandwagon as he along with his teammates try to lead us to a land we have never been to before and that is FOUR straight NCAA Tournaments! Before Brooks arrived on campus how many of you thought this was possible? He certainly has had alot of help with the likes of Coach Mac, Bennie, Crawford, Stout, Coleman etc but Brooks was also a big part of that success and anyone who tries to down play that hasn't followed this program closely!

Wow, I couldn't have said it better! IMO we are spinning our wheels debating if someone else could do what Brooks does or how his shot does or doesnt look. There is only one stat that counts...Ws...and the last time I checked no point guard in the history of our program has more that Brooksy!! IMO, you can't have any "comeback" to that argument!! Go Panthers

[pantherfan4ever]

just read this today:

"l Junior point guard Brooks McKowen leads the Missouri Valley Conference and ranks fourth in the nation with 7.2 assists per game. He has had no game with less than five assists, and two games with a season-high of nine."

A lot of this has to do with the fact that we really do rely on moving the ball and passing more than last year. In the past we often times ended up having benny or erik take guys to the hole more for 1 on 1 type plays. brooks is getting a lot more chances to penetrate and dish this year.. his baseline drive and dish to the posts has been pretty to watch this season.. not to mention the 6 assists he got against Iowa by lobbin it right over the top of the D whenever they werent paying attention. made um pay for sleeping

[Marc Wigim]

At any rate, let me go on the record and say that Brooks has been a big assist with our team this year. He's making fewer mistakes and looks more poised. He's not chucking up poor shots as much. I personally would rather see Brooks with 9 assists a game more than I would with 16 points in a game.

[BCPanther]

He just seems so much more comfortable. I don't know if it is Jake's personality, more freedom in the offense, or simply maturity at the PG spot. He will be a big reason this team has success this year.

[pantherfan4ever]

He just seems so much more comfortable. I don't know if it is Jake's personality, more freedom in the offense, or simply maturity at the PG spot. He will be a big reason this team has success this year.

I would say it has to do with his offensive freedom and maturity... in the past he helped run the team and was a leader, but he really didnt help "create" shots for anyone because our plays were usually set for benny or others.. now brooks is the one who has to make some things happen, and he has looked great!

I would also like to see him with 9 assists more than i would see him with 16 points a game.. HOWEVER, i love to see that when we need him (like the ISU game) and when the D is focusing on other guys, Brooks has stepped up offensively very well!

[UNIPNTHR]

Anyone else listen to Rima's postgame interview of Brooks tonight?

Does anyone not think he'll make a great coach some day?

[casbern]

Re: Brooks McKowen

DMRegister reporting that Brooks is coming to DMACC to be a full-time assistant coach.

“I have known (Panthers) coach Ben Jacobson for quite a while and through (Northern Iowa’s staff) learned that Brooks was looking for an opportunity to get into a full-time assistant coaching position,” DMACC coach B.J. McGinn said.

[williebat]

Re: Brooks McKowen

Way to go Brooks. His dad is a coach and I am willing to bet that Brooks will end up being a pretty good coach some day.

[Marc Wigim]

Re: Brooks McKowen

AHHH!!! Zombie thread! KILL IT! KILL IT!

[SpanishMoon]

Re: Brooks McKowen

There is no stopping him. He will have Hoiburgs job before you even know it.

[06panther10]

Re: Brooks McKowen

http://www.hoopdirt.com/news/b79cfa6...res-assistant/

Brooks hired as assistant at SW Minnesota St.

[casbern]

Re: Brooks McKowen

http://www.hoopdirt.com/news/b79cfa6...res-assistant/

Brooks hired as assistant at SW Minnesota St.

Any chance he wants to be an Assistant at UNI?

[BCPanther]

Re: Brooks McKowen

I think in the future you will see him back at UNI, he's just not quite ready yet. Maybe after Ben Johnson moves on, which is inevitable imo, he will be. He'd be someone I would like to see as a head coach here, or somewhere in the Valley, in the future. Hard worker with a great basketball mind...

[Trapped in California]

Re: Brooks McKowen

Brooks needs to expand his recruiting base before becoming an asset over an outside candidate. I suspect Jake is going to look for an assistant with a recruiting pipeline to Chicago/Milwaukee area.